As a job candidate, here is something you may not know – many, if not most, job openings are not advertised. As a Northern California executive search firm, Pacific Staffing knows first-hand this is especially true for high level positions. Rather, they are part of what’s known as the “hidden job market.” With many employers fearful of hiring full-time employees – particularly those that may demand hefty salaries, they’re investing more time and effort into hiring internally, as well as through referrals.

For companies, it simply makes sense. For job candidates, though, it can seem impossible get your foot in the door. How can you crack the code and mine this hidden market for the right opportunity? Here’s the secret: it’s all about networking.

To help you in your journey, below are some strategic networking tips to put into practice:

Begin Networking Well Before a Job Search

Don’t look at networking as a part of your job search effort; look at it as a way to advance your entire career. When you are regularly networking, you are also more likely to hear about new or upcoming opportunities. In addition, if you have a certain skill set a company is looking for, they can reach out to you via sites like LinkedIn. When you put yourself out there, you will get more in return.

Sign Up for Google Alerts 

Is there a company you’d like to work for? Create Google alerts for the company and the names of key executives. That way, any time they are in the news for expanding a division, landing a large contract or acquiring a new company, you’ll know right away via email. These are the types of situations in which a company will likely need to hire in order to meet growing demand.

You can then reach out to the executive or to the manager of the division you’d like to work in to inquire about opportunities. Be sure to mention what you read in the news about them.

Get Involved 

Attend a conference or trade show, or join an industry association or professional networking group. You’ll connect with a variety of new people, some of whom may be able to tell you about unadvertised positions, as well as give you access to key decision makers. Even if you don’t find out about a hidden job by getting involved, you’ll still make connections with those who can share valuable knowledge with you.

Avoid Human Resources

If there’s a company you want to work for, but they don’t have any job openings posted, don’t send your query letter to HR. Instead, send it directly to the person in charge of the division you’d like to work in, or if it’s a smaller company, to the president or CEO.

HR is simply a gatekeeper during the hiring process; they are not typically the ones making the hiring decisions. Rather, key executives are likely the ones initiating the hiring process and making the final decisions.

It’s frustrating that so many of the best jobs are hidden. However, if you employ the strategies above, you’ll be much more likely to uncover these unadvertised positions and put yourself in the running for one of them.

If you’d like additional assistance finding executive level job opportunities, please contact Pacific Staffing. As Northern California executive search firm, we can help you find the jobs and meet the employers that are right for your career goals.